Campanula glomerata
clustered bellflower
c ampanulaceae
Purple or white flowers in clusters;
heart-shaped to oval green leaves
18–24 in. high; 18 in. wide and spreading
Full sun
Blooms June–July
Zones 3–8
pruning Deadhead plants to lateral
buds to prolong bloom. As foliage
starts to decline and when all flower-
ing is completed, plants can be cut
down to fresh basal foliage. Do not
prune for the winter. Clean up as
needed in the spring.other maintenance Plants prefer
evenly moist, alkaline soil. Can be
somewhat invasive in rich soils,
though spread is minimal in poor soils.
Performs better in part shade in hot
climates. Often requires support to
keep upright. Divide in the spring or
autumn every 4–5 years or as needed
to control spread.
related plantS Campanula
glomerata ‘Superba’ has greater heat
tolerance than the species.
Campanula persicifolia
peachleaf bellflower
c ampanulaceaeSpikes of bell-shaped blue flowers; narrow
leaves
2–3 ft. (2/3 ft.) high; 2 ft. wide
Full sun or part shade
Blooms June–July
Zones 3–7
pruning Most campanulas will
flower longer with regular deadhead-
ing. When pruning the peachleaf
bellflower it is important to not cut off
the new buds that form along the same
flowering stem as the previous flowers.
This pruning can be tedious since each
individual dead flower must be
removed without damaging the
yet-to-open new buds. I like to use
small sharp pruning scissors for this
task. Deadheading reduces seeding,
although some seeding should be
permitted to ensure persistence of this
rather short-lived perennial in the
garden. When all flowering is finished
the old flower stems should be cut
down to basal foliage. Basal foliage
persists for the winter and rarely needs
cleanup in the spring. Pinching plants
when the shoots are about 6 in. tall
may eliminate the need for staking.
other maintenance Can natural-
ize by root spread and seeding, but not
a nuisance. Not particularly long-lived,
except in porous, sandy soils. Requires
moist, well-draining soil for best
growth, and afternoon shade in hot
climates. Plants usually need staking,
particularly in shadier spots. Divide
every 3–4 years in the spring.
related plantS Campanula
lactiflora, milky bellflower, can be
deadheaded by cutting back by a third
after all flowering is completed, which
often induces sparser rebloom in theCampanula glomerataCampanula persicifolia